Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia

Gold Coast

Sovereign Islands The Gold Coast is Australia's premier tourist destination attracting over 10 million overnight and daytrip visitors and approximately 10,000 new residents each year. It is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia and shares the title with Brisbane as one of the most desirable places in the world to live, ranked on political, social, economic and environmental factors, personal safety and health.

Located in south-east Queensland, 80km from State capital Brisbane, the Gold Coast spans Beenleigh and South Stradbroke Island to the north; Cabarita and Kingscliff in the south; and west to Beaudesert.

It is Australia's largest regional city nestled in a resort location bordered by 70km of internationally acclaimed beaches and World Heritage Listed subtropical rainforests. Combining business with pleasure like no other destination, the Gold Coast offers diversity and opportunities for both holidaymakers and business tourists alike with the recently added Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The Gold Coast embodies all that Australians are passionate about - the great outdoors, sports, a relaxed lifestyle, the beach and the idyllic subtropical climate, and has hosted the Gold Coast Indy for the past 18 years

The City boasts well-developed tourism services and infrastructure, international Casino and experienced industry operators. As well as cutting-edge industry development and thriving business centres in Surfers Paradise, Southport, Broadbeach and Robina. These assets, combined with the City's location, sub-tropical climate and quality lifestyle, have attracted large numbers of visitors to the Gold Coast since the 1980s.

Population: 470,000 and growing (expected to top 700,000 by 2021)

Area: Spans across 1,402 square kilometres (approx. 541 square miles)

Coastline: 80km from South Stradbroke Island to Kingscliffe

Ethnicity: Multicultural

Language: English

Currency: Australian dollars and cents

International visitors per year: 752,900 (as at 03/04 figures)

Domestic visitors per year: 3.5million (as at 03/04 figures)

Transport: Serviced by 2 international airports: Gold Coast Airport 20 minutes drive south from Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Brisbane Airport 1 hour drive north from Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Connected to Brisbane (Queenslands capital city) by rail and Pacific Motorway

Time zones: Australian Eastern Standard Time is:

Tokyo +1 hour, Thailand -3 hours, Los Angeles -18 hours, Singapore -2 hours, Malaysia -2 hours, New York -15 hours, Indonesia -1 to -3 hours, Korea -1 hour, London -10 hours, New Zealand +2 hours